Izzo expects Spartans to show up

Twelve times Michigan State had been to the NCAA basketball tournament since Jud Heathcote tossed the keys to his protege Tom Izzo, and 12 times Jud had saddled up from his retirement camp in Spokane and ridden off to support the Spartans at their first-rounder.

Hartford, Milwaukee, Cleveland. Memphis and D.C. The short hop to Seattle and the long haul to Tampa. Dayton and Denver. Worcester and Winston-Salem.

Jud made them all, even when he was still on the mend from heart surgery. But he was going to have to miss No. 13 this year because of a personal commitment – he is delivering a eulogy Saturday at the funeral of lifetime friend Jim Slavin – until the bracketeers serendipitously intervened and sent the Spartans to Spokane, and even gave them a Friday tipoff against New Mexico State. So he could hardly contain himself when he rang up Izzo on Sunday.

"Just do me one favor," he asked. "Could you bring your whole team out here?"

His old boss' needle drew a laugh but no blood. Izzo saved that for Thursday, when he checked in at the Spokane Arena and opened up a vein.

He has won a national championship and taken the Spartans to four other Final Fours, but this year people think Izzo is coaching Team Dysfunction. He suspended guard Chris Allen for what turned out to be the team's only game in the Big Ten tournament. Korie Lucious missed a game for an academic issue, and Durrell Summers has found himself on the bench for assorted effort-related shortcomings. Even All-Big Ten guard Kalin Lucas was banished from practice and a start.

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga Bulldogs snagged a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament and will play #13 seeded UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Boise, ID. This is Gonzaga's 20th consecutive appearance in the tournament, which ranks 6th in current active streaks, with Kansas at the top of the list, making their 29th appearance this year.

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga Bulldogs snagged a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament and will play #13 seeded UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Boise, ID. This is Gonzaga's 20th consecutive appearance in the tournament, which ranks 6th in current active streaks, with Kansas at the top of the list, making their 29th appearance this year.

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs came out on the losing end of a tightly contested battle Saturday night, falling 6-5 in a shootout in front of a sell out crowd at Spokane Arena. Both teams traded scoring chances early before Jake McGrew broke through the Giants' defense and cashed in for an unassisted goal on a backhanded shot at 11:43 to put the Chiefs ahead 1-0. Vancouver's Aidan Barfoot responded at 12:16 to tie things up before Spokane struck again, ...

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Chiefs came out on the losing end of a tightly contested battle Saturday night, falling 6-5 in a shootout in front of a sell out crowd at Spokane Arena. Both teams traded scoring chances early before Jake McGrew broke through the Giants' defense and cashed in for an unassisted goal on a backhanded shot at 11:43 to put the Chiefs ahead 1-0. Vancouver's Aidan Barfoot responded at 12:16 to tie things up before Spokane struck again, ...

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome). UMBC's Jourdan Grant (5) celebrates after a basket against Kansas State during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 18, 2018.

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Florida State player celebrate after defeating Xavier during a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 18, 2018. Florida State defeated Xavier 75-70.

The Florida State Seminoles are on their way to their first Sweet 16 since 2011 after upsetting top-seeded Xavier.More >>

The Florida State Seminoles are on their way to their first Sweet 16 since 2011 after upsetting top-seeded Xavier.More >>

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Cincinnati forward Kyle Washington (24) drives to the basket over Nevada forward Caleb Martin (10), during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 18,...

(AP Photo/Wade Payne). Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick watches the second half of a second-round game against Oregon State in the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee's streak is over, N.C. State is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 11 years and Texas A&M pulled off another record comeback. It was an eventful start to the second round.More >>

Tennessee's streak is over, N.C. State is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 11 years and Texas A&M pulled off another record comeback. It was an eventful start to the second round.More >>

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome). UMBC's Arkel Lamar, Jourdan Grant and K.J. Maura, from right, embrace as they leave the court in the closing moments of the team's 50-43 loss to Kansas State in a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournamen...

UMBC captured the hearts of the college basketball world with its Goliath-slaying victory over top-seeded Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

UMBC captured the hearts of the college basketball world with its Goliath-slaying victory over top-seeded Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome). Texas A&amp;M's Jay Jay Chandler (0) drives against North Carolina's Luke Maye (32) during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 18, 2018.

T.J. Starks had 21 points and Texas A&M overpowered North Carolina inside, upsetting the reigning national champions 86-65 Sunday in the NCAA Tournament to mark the second straight year a title holder missed the...More >>

T.J. Starks had 21 points and Texas A&M overpowered North Carolina inside, upsetting the reigning national champions 86-65 Sunday in the NCAA Tournament to mark the second straight year a title holder missed the Sweet 16.More >>

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Nevada guard Hallice Cooke (13) and forward Elijah Foster (12) celebrate at the end end of the second half of a second-round game against Cincinnati, in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March...

The Sweet 16 field is set after a roller coaster ride of an opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament.More >>

The Sweet 16 field is set after a roller coaster ride of an opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament.More >>

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy). West Virginia forward Sagaba Konate (50) dunks against Marshall during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game Sunday, March 18, 2018, in San Diego.

Jevon Carter scored 28 points, Lamont West added 18 off the bench and West Virginia overwhelmed its in-state rival beating Marshall 94-71 in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

Jevon Carter scored 28 points, Lamont West added 18 off the bench and West Virginia overwhelmed its in-state rival beating Marshall 94-71 in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio). Purdue center Isaac Haas shoots during warmups before a second round game against Butler in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Detroit. A day after Isaac Haas' season was declared over, there's ...

Purdue's dramatics surrounding its star 7-foot center are spicing up right before its game for a spot in the Sweet 16. Purdue center Isaac Haas is warming up and taking shots two days after breaking his right elbow.More >>

Purdue's dramatics surrounding its star 7-foot center are spicing up right before its game for a spot in the Sweet 16. Purdue center Isaac Haas is warming up and taking shots two days after breaking his right elbow.More >>

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome). UMBC's Jourdan Grant (5) celebrates after a basket against Kansas State during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 18, 2018.

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Florida State player celebrate after defeating Xavier during a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 18, 2018. Florida State defeated Xavier 75-70.

The Florida State Seminoles are on their way to their first Sweet 16 since 2011 after upsetting top-seeded Xavier.More >>

The Florida State Seminoles are on their way to their first Sweet 16 since 2011 after upsetting top-seeded Xavier.More >>

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Cincinnati forward Kyle Washington (24) drives to the basket over Nevada forward Caleb Martin (10), during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 18,...

(AP Photo/Wade Payne). Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick watches the second half of a second-round game against Oregon State in the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee's streak is over, N.C. State is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 11 years and Texas A&M pulled off another record comeback. It was an eventful start to the second round.More >>

Tennessee's streak is over, N.C. State is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 11 years and Texas A&M pulled off another record comeback. It was an eventful start to the second round.More >>

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome). UMBC's Arkel Lamar, Jourdan Grant and K.J. Maura, from right, embrace as they leave the court in the closing moments of the team's 50-43 loss to Kansas State in a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournamen...

UMBC captured the hearts of the college basketball world with its Goliath-slaying victory over top-seeded Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

UMBC captured the hearts of the college basketball world with its Goliath-slaying victory over top-seeded Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome). Texas A&amp;M's Jay Jay Chandler (0) drives against North Carolina's Luke Maye (32) during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, March 18, 2018.

T.J. Starks had 21 points and Texas A&M overpowered North Carolina inside, upsetting the reigning national champions 86-65 Sunday in the NCAA Tournament to mark the second straight year a title holder missed the...More >>

T.J. Starks had 21 points and Texas A&M overpowered North Carolina inside, upsetting the reigning national champions 86-65 Sunday in the NCAA Tournament to mark the second straight year a title holder missed the Sweet 16.More >>

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey). Nevada guard Hallice Cooke (13) and forward Elijah Foster (12) celebrate at the end end of the second half of a second-round game against Cincinnati, in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March...

The Sweet 16 field is set after a roller coaster ride of an opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament.More >>

The Sweet 16 field is set after a roller coaster ride of an opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament.More >>

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy). West Virginia forward Sagaba Konate (50) dunks against Marshall during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game Sunday, March 18, 2018, in San Diego.

Jevon Carter scored 28 points, Lamont West added 18 off the bench and West Virginia overwhelmed its in-state rival beating Marshall 94-71 in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>

Jevon Carter scored 28 points, Lamont West added 18 off the bench and West Virginia overwhelmed its in-state rival beating Marshall 94-71 in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament.More >>